Automatic casket sealing



T. HOSTETTER. AUTOMATIC CASKET SEALING.

APPLICATION FILED OCT 15 I9 1,410,757. I I I Patented Mar. 28, 1922.

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AUTOMATIC CASKET SEALING.

Application filed October 15, 1919.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THnoDonn i'ios'rn'rran, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Toledo, Lucas County, Ghio, have invented a new and useful Automatic Casket Sealing, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to sealing of closures to vessels or receptacles, or the provision of waterproof joints.

This invention has utility when incorporated in self-sealing vaults or burial caskets.

Referring to the drawing:

The figure is, a partial sectional view of a composition burial casket having an embodiment of the invention incorporated in the seal or joint therebetween.

A main receptacle or casket l is shown as having a top or upper opening 2 surrounded by an outwardly and downwardly inclined seat- 3. A closure or top 4. is provided for thecasket 1, and this closure at is provided with an opposing relatively parallel inclined seat 5 as to the seat 3 of the casket 1.

In carrying out an embodiment of the invention herein, a felt strip or tape is impregnated with a pressure and moisture affected sealing composition. The impregnation may be brought about by a warm mixture of seven parts of thin creosote oil, five parts of asphalt, one part of medium coal tar and one part of strong gum arabic solution, into which the felt is immersed for a thorough soaking. Such an impregnated strip or tape 6 may then be applied at the joint to be made self sealing, and may be effective even as a single strip. However, in this instance, thetape 6 is applied separately to the seats 3 and 5, bringing about initial firm holding relations respectively with the casket 1 and closure 4.

Caskets are normally stocked indefinitely for emergency calls. Under such circumstances, it is desirable that the tape 6 not lose its life. Of still greater importance is the sightliness of the casket and that in the handling thereof there may not be any Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 25%, 1922.

Serial No. 330,942.

soiling of delicate materials. To this end the decorative finish of the casket 1 and cover or top at, adjacent the seats 3, 5, may extend as a coating 7 over the sealing means or pressure affected moisture softened tapes 6.

With varnish 7 over the impregnated tapes 6, there is produced a symmetry of finish in keeping with the surrounding ornamentation or decoration. Before final sealing is desired, any placing of the closure 4 over the opening 2 of the casket 1, should not be in the fully lowered relation. For instance, small blocks of wood may be interposed to p *eclude the load of the top 4 acting to tend to seal the joint between the top and casket.

Preferably, it is not contemplated to have pressure alone bring about a sealing. As herein disclosed, while the substances co1nbine for a waterproof joint, they tend to soften slightly when exposed to moisture, as earth moisture. Accordingly, with the pressure of the top 4 fracturing the coating 7, there may be suilicient moisture in the atmosphere to bring about at least a partial sealing, should the top not be spaced from the casket until it is desired to have the permanent sealing automatically operative.

ven though sealing not occur out of moisture region, there may be such fracture of the coating 7 by the top 4 as to detract from the desired uniformity of attractiveness of the casket. The spacing of the top from the casket is most desirable as above outlined, until the final closing. Then the pressure of the top, supplemented by the overload of earth and the earth moisture at once work a secure waterproof union as a permanent casket sealing automatically accomplished with no delays or harshness of labor operations to be witnessed by the bereaved who may remain until the grave is being filled or until the casket is reposed in the niche of the vault.

What is claimed and it is desired to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. A burial casket having an inclined the seats 3, 5, coated, say with therefor having an opposing seat, pressure 10 and moisture afieetecl sealing means on the respective seats and. a finish coating for the seats providing means preserving the sealing means inactive until subjected to pressure and moisture for then uniting the 15 closure to the casket as a Waterproof joint.

In Witness whereof I affix my signature.

THEODORE HOSTETTER 

